Time capsule set for June burial

A century from now, there might not be lightbulbs.\nA lightbulb is among the many submissions the Monroe County History Center has collected for inclusion in the Monroe County Courthouse Time Capsule.\nOn Saturday, the History Center will allow the public to view the items and vote on which ones they think should be included. The capsule is intended to be buried for 100 years before officials open it in 2107 to see what has changed and what has not since 2007.\nWhether the capsule will be buried indoors or outdoors has not yet been decided, but the capsule will be placed in the cornerstone area of the Monroe Country Courthouse at 2 p.m. on June 16 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the laying of the courthouse cornerstone. \nLisa Simmons, who is the education, membership and volunteer coordinator of the Monroe County History Center, and who sat in on meetings that discussed what to include in the capsule, said the capsule will be firmly sealed so no one can dig it up if the outdoor location is selected. She said there will also be a large brass marker suggesting a date to open the capsule. In 1907, a time capsule was placed by the Monroe County Courthouse cornerstone, but there has been difficulty relocating it.\nMonroe County Historian Rachel McCarty is in charge of this project and has been spearheading efforts to collect items that can accurately represent life in Monroe County in 2007. \n“It’s been fun and exciting to think about the different things that should be included,” McCarty said. “We are trying to think of how people will think 100 years from now when they open the time capsule up. Will it be archaic to see a cell phone and iPod? Will they even care of the businesses that were listed during the time?” \nShe suggested the time capsule might include a parking ticket, because it is possible that cars could fly in the future.\n“It’s fun to think what they will be thinking when they open it,” McCarty said. \nThe idea of putting items on a disc or CD was suggested, but McCarty said 100 years from now the equipment to run such items may not be widely available.\nSimmons’ favorite item among the submissions is the Break Away visitors’ guide and map. She said it definitively contains information about happenings in 2007 in the Bloomington community.\n“It’s good for research,” Simmons said. She also listed similar items that would spark research and would be great to include in the time capsule. Simmons said there are plans to include a list of IU graduates and other names for added research perspective. \nA pack of cigarettes is on the list of possible items that may not be around in 2107 when the capsule is reopened, Simmons said, suggesting that cigarettes might be forbidden by that point.\nNot everything received will go in the time capsule. \nMcCarty said currently, if anyone is generous enough to donate an iPod, it would be appreciated, as she hopes to include that in the capsule as well. \nSimmons seconded that request, saying the iPod would be a great addition to the capsule.\n“It’s good for technology purposes, but also to upload today’s top-40 or local music,” Simmons said. Unlike VHS, it is possible that Monroe County residents will be able to access the music files on the iPod 100 years from now. Uploading songs and local Bloomington music would provide added perspective about the music scene in 2007 and allow for future comparison. \nPolitical pins, magazines and newspaper publications from the area, an invitation from IU President Adam Herbert and boy and girl scout memorabilia are among some of the other donated time capsule items, McCarty said.\n“We want things that are up-to-date from 2007 and represent Monroe County today,” McCarty said. “We are trying to get a lot of community items and input.” \nWith gas prices hitting all-time highs, McCarty said she would like to include a photo showing the local gas costs per gallon. \nThe donated time capsule items will be on display at the Monroe County History Center on Saturday for community members to come and vote and suggest other items to be included. Due to the limited number of items that can be included in the capsule’s small volume limit, votes will be needed to determine the top choices. \nSimmons said Bloomington tends to be centered on IU, but the time capsule should reflect all areas of County life and should step outside the city, even if there are more events in town than elsewhere. Items from throughout Monroe County will also be filling the historic concept, Simmons said. \n“It’s naturally part of our mission statement and gives us an opportunity to yet again meet our mission,” she said.\n“The items are not all just relating to technology and not all industry-related,” Simmons said. “They are things that represent the schools, politics of the time. We definitely don’t want to leave something out.”